Car-unloader.



H. RICHARDSON.

CAR UNLOADER.

APPLICATION man Auma. 1911. Y

H. RICHARDSON.

CAR UNLOADER.

APPLICATION VILED AUGV28. i917.

Patm'ed Apr, 30, 1918,

5 SHEEIS-SHEEY 2K H. RICHARDSON.

CAR UNLOAD'ER.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJB. 1917.

v Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

H. RICHARDSON.

CAR UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28,1917.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H. RICHARDSON.

CAR UNLOADER.

APPLICATICIN FILED AUG-28,1%?.

' Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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Toall 'whom-t mag/concern: v n Y Be it lruownthat l, lilnrrnr litrosson, subject `of `the King vof Great Britain, resid.- i-ng at PassaicNleiwdersey, have inaented v'certain new and uisetul ,provements inCar-Unloaders, .of which the following is a speciiication.nl

This invention relates to improvements car unloaders,` proposing aconstruction .of :that type wherein the 'cal-,is tilted, tirst in:onefdirectilon Iand then in the other, about a :transverse axis, to ydischarge its contents through lthe central door. l 'Jlhe principalobjects of the invention are to provide a car unloaderol the type statedwhich may be operated with greater rvfacllity, expedition vand V`economythan existing constructions; and'to 'avoid any loss .ot material.

A furthery yobject of thc invention is to provide aA ycar unlo'ader ofsturdy and simple construction. i

With 'the-abovejobjects in view .the invention zconsists Ain certainfeatures of-structure, 4'combination and relation which will 'be setforth in detail as the description proceeds.

an .entendent er n@ invention is inns.

trated in j the laccompanying drags,Y

whereinfrv Figure 1 isa side elevation ot a car `unloader inwhich thefeatures ot the invention vare incorporated. y s n n Fig. `2 is`asimilar view showing the un` loader as in operation.

` Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. t is an end elevation.

Figs. `5 and 6 are longitudinal andcross sectional views of a bearingfor a tiltable cradle to be hereafter referred to. u v

Fig. 7 is a detail lcross sectional vlew showing an end bumper.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The working parts are located 1n a pit 1 which forms an lnterruption ofthe track 2, the space between the ends ot the .pit being normallybridged by 'a car platform 3 carrying rails 4 which5 at times coperatewith the track 2. The materia charged from the car is delivered to aconveyer 5 of any suitable construction and arrangement but which, as.shown, operates adjacent the floor of the pit..

The platform 3 normally occupiesa horiwhich is dis- .zontal plane inwhich position a vcarto be unloaded may ibe moved upon said `platform ineither end 'of the pit. To edect the unloadngof the car vtheplatfo'rmistiltable about a transverse axis. The car discharges l into a hop' er6 supported adjacent said platytorni; an an important feature of theinventionconsists in the mounting of the hopper whereby it will movewith the platform when theilatter is tilted about a transverse axis. lnthis way the hoppermay be made of very-great capacity and its relation"to the car w1ll be' constant from which it follows that the unloadingoperation is expedited yand lossof `material is avoided.

The :platform 3 is an element of a car carine'ans which in theembodiment disc osed also includes a cradle 7.

4The cradle 7, which is preferably of skeleton construction has endAbars 8 ot generally llllshapedoutline and pendent from its side bars.9. l

For the support of said Acradle an over- Y'hangmg'truss 10 is arrangedadjacent the said Apost coperate with the side bars 9 through Atheagency of bearings 12 `which are preferably of the construction shownand `which kare arranged centrally of said side bars. Each bearing 12includes a rocker .element 13 secured to the side har 9 and a stationaryrocker element 14 secured to the support, c'. e., thetruss 1 0 or post11, as the case may be. The element 13 rockson the element 14` and thefaces of both elements are reversely curved through suitable arcs. It ispreferred to include as parts ,of said elements wear blocks 13 and 14;respectivel which are made of suitably hardened meta Each supportterminates in a air of parallel plates 15 between which the e ements 13`and 14 are arranged and said plates are formed with alining openings 16in which are rotatably tted disk shaped guides 17 carried by the rockingelement 13.

rlhe hopper 6 is Xedly secured to the cradle 7 at oneside of theplatform 3 and in the embodiment disclosed has a constantly open centraldischarge spout 18 which overhangs a stationary hopper 19 arranged inthe pit 1 and in turn dellvering the material to the conveyer 5. Theplatform 3, althouh participating in the tilting movement ot i cradle,isitself tiltable on the cradle about a longitudinal axis. Thus vthecradle is provided at suitable intervals with supporting bearings 20 forlongitudinal pivots 21 carried by said platform.

The platform 3, as stated, normally occupiges a horizontal position andafter the ear has been positioned upon the platform the" firstoperationof the machine is the tilting of the platform about its axis 2l into alaterally inclined position as shown in Fig. 4.- This `lojwration of theplatform effects the-tilting-ofthe car from its normal positionshown-'by broken lines in Fig. 4 to a laterally inclined positionwherein it partly' orerhangs the hopper 6; and the car remains inthislaterally inclined position throughout the operation of theunloader. This tilting'v of the car'is instrumental in effectingA aninitial discharge through the openv door of the car of a substantialpercentage of the cargo, i. e., a third, more or less, into the hopper6. Thereafter the unloading is completed in two major operations, i. e.,a tilting of the cradle 7, and with it the car, first 'in one directionand then in the other; v*When the cradleis at the limit of its tiltingmovement in either direction material is discharged through the opendoor of'theicar from that end ofthe car which is uppermost. 1n this waythe cargo is completely discharged by successively unloadingboth endsofthe car. After the second or reverse tilting operation of the cradletheI platform is restored to its normal position by first moving thecradle into normal position and -thereafter moving the platform aboutits axis 21'into a horizontal plane. The empty car is then moved fromthe platform to asuitable location on the track 2.

The hopper 6 has its receivingend or mouth formed to provide a forwardlyand downwardly inclined flange 22 which pro-i jects under the platform 3(the latter being of skeleton construction) and prevents any materialfrom falling between the platform and the body of the hopper 6, all thematerial which falls upon said ange being directed by it into thehopper` Ql/Vhere the material is of fine granularcharacter, such forexample, as grain there is apt to be a percentage of loss by leakagethrough loose il@ f seams adjacent the doors when the cargo open. Toprevent loss from `such leakage is shifted or when one of the doors isforced the platform 3 is provided with an apron 23 which is disposedtransversely under the car-and projects beyond the-side of the carvopposite toits'delivery side. The apron 23 isfarrangcd to form afunctional continuationof the flange 22 when the platform is in itslaterallyinclincd position, the forwardl or lower-fend of said apronpreferably overf lapping s'aidtlange. Ithwill be obvious'that anymaterial which escapes throughloose seams or cracks adjacent the closeddoor will fall upon the apron 23 by which and the Hange 22 such materialwill be directed into the hopper 6.

The sides of the hopper preferably extend in converging relation tocause a certain concentration of the material as it flows through thespout 18. This is desirable in order that the material may be dischargedwithout violence to itself or to the unloader and may have asubstantially uniform rate of flow. If found necessary to counteract thelessening of the discharge angle (relativelyto a horizontal plane) ofeither of the hopper sides when the cradle is tilted into either of itsoperative positions the sides of the hopper may, as shown, be

each provided with a suitably proportioned and arranged supplementalmaterial discharge opening 24; and when the hopper is tilted with thecradle, in either direction, material will How simultaneously throughthe discharge spout 18 and through the opening 24 of the then lower sideof the hopper into the stationary hopper 19.

The invention includes means for effecting the tilting movement of thecar carrier to elevate either end of the car. Such means may be of anysuitable construction and operation but it is preferably of theconstruction shown which consists essentially of a traveling head 25connected at its opposite sides tocables 26 and 27 which extend in,

lis preferably directly operated by a reversible electric motor 30located adjacent one end yofthe cradle. The cradle is provided with a7pendent longitudinally disposed skeleton frame 31 which is utilized as asupport for various elements of the unloader and includes side'V beams32. The cables 26 and 27 are trained over a group of small sheaves 33arranged along an are and over larger sheaves 34 and 35 respectively, ofwhich a pair, one located above the other are arranged adjacent therespective ends of the group of sheaves 33, the pintles of all of saidsheaves being supported by the beams 32. The larger sheaves 34 and 35are provided in order to secure easy bending moments of the cables astheir direction abruptly changes. It is preferred to provide a pair ofcables 26 and a pair of cables 27 and to arrange the cables of each pairat equal distances from the center of the head 25. Pursuant to thisarrangement, one pair oficables will operate between the cablesefsheaves -433 provided .therefor and ,at the fright @mi of .sai ero-erfof .shearsS` .bein fledJ 11rward and over fthe sheaves 34 rom the upperAont which they are led inward er to the left Vto the head 25. llnlikemanner the cables 27 extend from their connections'28 tudinally disposedshaft 38 journaled `in also be raise at the right end .of the pit'toward the left,

passing -over the sheaves 33 provided there-- for at the left end ofsaid group of sheaves being led upward and lover the sheaves 3 5 fromthe upper of which they are led inward or to theright to the bead 25.llt will be manifest that when the head 25 is moved to the right thecables 27 willbe instrumental in 'tilting the cradle to bring the rightend of the car uppermost andthat when the head 26 is moved `to the leftthe cables 26 will be instrumental in tilting the cradle in the oppositedirection to bring the left end ofthe car uppermost.

Theinvention includes means for tilting the platform 3 about its axis21. As shown and preferred this means vcomprises arms 36 rigid with saidplatform and depending therefrom, said arms having vertical slots 37 attheir lower ends and a rotatable longibearings secured to the frame 3land provided vvith crank arms 39 having wrist pins which operate in saidslots. The shaft 38 is preferably driven by worm reduction gearing 40from an electric motor 41 supported on a bracket 42 `'secured to theframe 31.

For the purpese of holding the car against endwise movement von theplatform 3 movable end bumpers are provided. The end bumpers and theirappurtenant mechanism may be of any lsuitable lconstruction but they arepreferably of the construction shown. Each end bumper 43 is mounted uponone or a pair of upright arms 44 which at their lower ends are pivotedto a supporting lever 45. l'llhe lever 45 is pivoted between its ends asat`46 to a' bracket 47 supported from and below the platform 3 and atits inner end carries a counter-balance weightl 48. lBy virtue of theirconnection to the lever 45 the bumper carrying arms may be moved in foreand aft directions and by virtue of the pivotal mounting of the lever 45said arms may d or lowered. ln order to hold the arms 44 in operativeposition an upright hadith-l@ leser system .described .the-.patatas orthe bumpers 43 maybe adjusted in Iaccordar ice withl variations a .aslengths af ai. eine tothe p latform .and having 'a' series of reiches'53. .opening :to their :lever faces are Provided for ceperation withries ,5.4 pre- ]ecting laterally V'from :the arinfor'arms 44. llhe pins54 .enga e inthe notches v5 3 in accordance with the .positionsl inwhich the bumpers are set and hold the ,arms 44 and with them thebumpers against upward and fre and" aft movement.` The tendency of t eweight 48 is to raise the bum-pers and in yorder that the' bumpers maynormally be held in a-lowered position wherein they will offer novobstruction to the movement of .the car upon the platform said bumpersareprovided with laterally projecting pins 55 for engagement in hooks5.6 'secured to the platf ,forni 3.

In the. embodiment disclosed the bumpers are operated manually. Assuming.that they are to be yoperated to engage the car, the attendant first`manipulates them,f by a downward and inward movement, to di'sengage thepins 55 yfrom the hooks 56 after which he permits vtheir upwardmovement, as effected by the weight 48, guiding them however luto aposition-wherein they will engage the coupling member at the adjacentendofthe car. As the bumpers thus move upward into operative position thepins 54 en age in the notches 53 whose location accor s. with thenecessary position of the bumpers. In order t o release the car thebumpers are depressed and manipulated to edect the engagement of thepins 55 in the hooks 56.

rlhe head 25 `and the shaft 29 upon which said head operates areeifective to normally hold the cradle 7 against tilting movement butinstead of relying on these elements for such lpurpose it is desirableto employ a suitable ockingdevice, preferably consisting of latch yarms57 guided adjacent the ends of the platform 3 and engageable in keepers58 provided in the end walls of the pit, the said arms being connectedby links 59 to a suit,

ably located upright operating lever 60 by which said arms may beengaged in or withdrawn from said keepers.

Having fully described my invention l claim 1. lin a carunloader, a carcarrier tiltable about a transverse axis; and an unloading hopperlocated at one side of and tiltable with said carrier, the car, whenpositioned on said carrier, discharging its contents into said hopper.

2. lln acar unloader, a car carrier tiltable in either direction about acentral transverse axis and including a car platform'tilt able about alongitudinal axis; and an unloading hopper located adjacent one side ofsaid platform and tiltable with said carrier and into vwhich the car,when positioned on said platform, discharges its contents.

3.' In a car unloader, a car carrier comprising la cradle tiltable`about a central transverse axis and a car platform -supported by saidcradle for participation in the tilting movement thereof; and anunloading hopper supported by said cradle adjacent one side of saidplatform for participation in the tiltingmovement ofsaid cradle, thecar, when positioned on said platform discharging its contents into saidhopper. v

4. In a car unloader, a car carrier comi prising a cradle tiltable abouta central transverse axis,` and a car platform supported by said cradlefor participation in the tilting movement thereof, said platform beingitself tiltable about a longitudinal axis; and anunloading hoppersupported by said cradle adjacent one side of said platform forparticipation in the'tilting movement of said cradle, the car whenpositioned on said platform discharging its contents into said hopper.

5. In a car unloader,"a car carrier tiltable about a central transverseaxis; and an unloading hopper located at one side of and tiltable withsaidcarrier, the car, when positioned on said barrier, discharging itscontentsy into said hopper, said hopper having converging sides providedwith material discharge openin s.

6. In a car un oader, a car carrier comprising" a cradle tiltable abo-uta central,y transverse axis, and a car platform sup-v ported by saidcradle for participation in l the tilting movement thereof, saidplatform being itself `tiltable about a longitudinal axis; an unloadinghopper vsupportedby said cradle adjacent one side of said platform forparticipation in the tilting movement of said cradle, the car whenpositioned on said platform discharging its contents into said hopper;"and an apron carried by said platform and disposed under the car,

said apron when the platform is tilted into a laterally inclinedposition, being inclined toward said hopper to feed thereto any materialescaping by leakage from -the car.

7. In a car unloader, a car carrier including a cradle and a, carplatform mounted thereon; an unloading hopper mounted'bn the cradleadjacent one side of said platform; the cradle having side bars locatedbeyond the platform and the hopper; bearings associated with the centralportions of said side bars to provide pivotal support for the cradlewhereby the latter and with .it the platform and the hopper may tiltAoppositely directed cables connected to said head and having fixedoppositely located connections at their ends remote from said head;vguide sheaves for said cables, and'na frame depending from said cradleand carrying said guide sheaves.

9. In a car unloader, a car carrier including `a 'cradle tiltable abouta central transverse axis, and meansffor tilting said cradle including'arotatable threaded longitudinal shaft supported by the cradle, a headyformed as a nut and mounted on said shaft for movement in eitherdirection and a system of anchored cables connected to said head.

10. In a car unloader, a car carrier including al cradle `tiltable abouta central transverse axis andl means for tilting said cradle includinga' Ahead movable in either direction lengthwise of said ciadle and asystem of anchored cables connected to said head.

11. In a car unloader, a car carrier including a cradle tiltable about acentral transverse axis anda car platform supported on said cradle andtiltable about a longitudinal axis; and means for tilting said platformcomprising an arm carried by said. platform and formed with a slot and arotatable shaft carried by said cradle and having a crank arm providedwith' a wrist pin operating in said slot.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set mv hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY RICHARDSON. Witnesses C. P. CLARK, T. I. E. GODFREY.

